Underwater Optical Transceivers for High-Speed Secure Communication

Solution Overview

Problem

Current underwater communication systems, particularly acoustic methods, are vulnerable to eavesdropping and offer low transfer rates, unable to meet the demands of modern network and video communication protocols which require significantly higher data transfer rates.

Innovation Solution

An optical underwater communication system utilizing transceivers with optical sources, photodetectors, and encoding/decoding mechanisms to establish secure and high-speed communication by converting light signals into pulses for data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If acoustic wave communication is used underwater, then communication transparency and reliability are improved, but transfer rate deteriorates (limited to kilobits per second)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddata transfer rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces acoustic wave communication (mechanical wave propagation through water) with optical communication using photons. The transceiver system uses optical sources to generate light signals and photodetectors to detect them, substituting the mechanical acoustic field with an optical field for data transmission, thereby achieving gigabit per second transfer rates while maintaining underwater communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If acoustic wave communication is used underwater, then communication transparency is improved, but security deteriorates (vulnerable to eavesdropping)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication transparencyVSAvoideavesdropping vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces acoustic wave communication with optical communication using photons. The transceiver system uses optical sources to generate light signals and photodetectors to detect them, substituting the mechanical acoustic field with an optical field for data transmission, thereby achieving gigabit per second transfer rates while maintaining underwater communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If optical sources are used for underwater communication, then data transfer rate is improved (gigabits per second), but detection difficulty increases (single photon detection required)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer rateVSAvoidphoton detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces acoustic wave communication with optical communication using photons. The transceiver system uses optical sources to generate light signals and photodetectors to detect them, substituting the mechanical acoustic field with an optical field for data transmission, thereby achieving gigabit per second transfer rates while maintaining underwater communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If single photon detection is implemented, then communication security is improved (immune to eavesdropping), but device complexity increases (requires specialized photodetectors and encoding mechanisms)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeavesdropping immunityVSAvoidtransceiver system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces acoustic wave communication with optical communication using photons. The transceiver system uses optical sources to generate light signals and photodetectors to detect them, substituting the mechanical acoustic field with an optical field for data transmission, thereby achieving gigabit per second transfer rates while maintaining underwater communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables secure and high-speed underwater communication immune to eavesdropping, with the potential to extend communication distances beyond what is achievable with existing acoustic methods.

Implementation Method 1

one or more optical sources configured to provide light activated and deactivated according to a first bit stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission and modulation: Light

Implementation Method 2

one or more sensor packages each comprising a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive light from the other transceiver and, in response, provide i) an output voltage signal corresponding to photoelectron response of an incident photon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

optical underwater communication system... receiving light from the other transceiver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight propagation in water: Light

Data Source

PatentUS11874171B2Under water photon communication by single photon detection

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 MIFTEK CORP

AI summary

An optical underwater communication system is disclosed which includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver, each including one or more optical sources configured to provide light activated and deactivated according to a first bit stream, one or more sensor packages each comprising a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive light from the other transceiver and, in response, provide an output voltage signal and an output current signal, a detector configured to i) convert the output voltage signal and the output current signal to pulses associated with arrival of photons, and ii) count the number of pulses based on a predetermined timing sequence, an encoder configured to encode a message to be sent into a first bit stream, and a decoder configured to decode a message received into a second bit stream.